Granada, once the capital of Spain, is only a fifty-minute car journey from Casa La Negra and well worth the trip. Visiting at different times of year can feel like a completely different experience, and each of them enriching and unique.

This former stronghold of Moorish Spain is full of romance and folklore. At the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Granada sprawls over two large hills: Alhambra and Albaicin. The University of Granada is one of the finest in Spain and as such there is a young lively crowd mixing well with the more traditional locals. Granada boasts one of the most magnificently positioned palaces in the world: the Alhambra, possibly Spain’s greatest attraction. Its as wondrous to behold from across the gorge, with the white peaks of the Sierra Nevada glinting behind in the sun, as it is to wander around marvelling at its elaborate symbolic designs and stunning gardens. The city has a fascinating history, which is still evident today in Granada´s Jewish quarters and Arabian baths.

Malaga is often still perceived as purely a gateway city, somewhere to arrive by plane or pull into harbour, only to continue your Spanish experience elsewhere. This perception is not only dated, it is far from the truth: Malaga is a city with centuries of history and influenced by peoples, religions, and cultures from all over the world. The Alcazaba fortress, for example dates back to the 700’s and over the centuries its unique architecture has been created under the influence of the Phoenicians, Moors, Romans, Christians and of course the Spanish themselves. Other sites include the magnificent Malaga cathedral – perfect to explore with a tour guide during the day, and spectacularly illuminated at night – and many other churches, each with its own distinctive style.

Casa La Negra is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Tejeda, just thirty-five minutes from the beach and ten minutes from the national park. There is a whole range of outdoor activities our guests can enjoy. However, with our ample grounds and spacious living areas our villa is perfect for running a variety of retreats.

Typically, Casa La Negra attracts two types of retreat host; those who run retreats as a business venture and those organised by groups of friends or special interest groups looking to explore their hobby away from home. Both groups are equality delighted, in fact most of them come back to repeat the experience.

We had great week of varied walks ranging from a stroll around the local village to tackling La Maroma, the highest mountain in the Axarquia at 2069m. There are several walking guide books that at least partly cover the area (see below) but not much in the way of detailed/accurate walking maps or waymarking. GPS is the most re-assuring way to go. The house is at the western edge of the Axarquia but there are also nice hill walks west of Axarquia for a shorter drive.

The Costa del Sol is the perfect training ground for cyclists, swimmers and runners. The Andalusia area is home to various sporting events suitable for all levels of athlete – whether you are a serious cyclist who wants to test your stamina, or a first time triathlete who fancies taking advantage of the beautiful promenade routes, glorious coastal swims and gentle flats for a fast bike time.

Just rock up and enjoy our decorations. With a tree, tinsel and plenty of bunting you’ll be feeling festive as soon as you walk through the door. No fiddling with the tree lights, looking for missing bulbs or scrabbling around in the loft for the Christmas fairy. We are happy to accommodate requests too (within reason!). But the best part has to be having someone to take everything down, and no pine needles to hoover up!

I have to say our February cycling getaway did not start auspiciously:

Mike had missed the transfer to the airport at 3:30 in the morning as he was too busy partying sleeping, and only just made the flight from Glasgow after an expensive taxi journey. When we landed in Malaga our transfer company failed to show up, and I had to call them a few times before our coach was despatched to ferry us along the coast and up into the mountains.

Upon arrival I then faced a mutiny because one final obstacle, a steep concrete driveway, was between our destination and us. My reassurances were not appreciated and just when the rumbles of a serious revolt were reaching their loudest, I was saved.

The Spanish are just as enthusiastic as their UK and US cousins when it comes to celebrating the Christmas and New Year period. However they do things slightly differently. For example, in Spain children may get one present on Christmas Eve (not Christmas day) and look forward to the 6th January when the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings) deliver the rest of their presents.

Interested in what's different about Christmas in Spain? Please read on....

Horse Riding on the Costa del Sol, Spain If you love horses and want to explore the Costa del Sol’s beautiful scenery from a different perspective you may want to consider hacking with one of the regions many riding schools. Finding a school can seem daunting when you are abroad and especially so if you are a beginner but fortunately for us, Penny the property manager at Casa La Negra, came up trumps with her local contacts and arranged us a wonderful two-hour hack across the countryside in Velez Malaga.

Whether it’s a special birthday or landmark anniversary why not celebrate in style in Spain?

Parties can get expensive we've got good news; many aspects of organising a party are cheaper here in the Costa del Sol. Additionally we have a wide range of local contacts and can act as event managers to take the hassle and stress out of your big day.

If you are looking for party venues, consider this list of reasons to host your big day at Casa La Negra, Periana:

The potential to establish a significant regular income from hosting retreats is high. Even if you are looking to run your fitness or wellness retreat as a one off with select clients for fun – the benefits are many.

Like many people venturing to Andalusia for their holidays, part of the trip’s allure was the prospect of sampling the region’s gastronomic delights. Although it’s easy to buy in to the perception of Malaga as an airport or commercial city, we have explored its streets in recent years and been pleasantly surprised at the treasures they hold.

The city’s recent €80 million redevelopment has seen Malaga undergo a transformation into a cosmopolitan jewel of the Mediterranean, boasting swanky roof top restaurants, modern shopping areas and an impressive contemporary harbour area.